Beginning with Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, Gothic literature challenged the moral certainties of the 18th century. By exploring the dark romance of the medieval past with its castles and abbeys, its wild landscapes and fascination with the supernatural, Gothic writers placed imagination firmly at the heart of their work - and our culture.

Iconic works, such as handwritten drafts of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the modern horrors of Clive Barker’s Hellraiser and the popular Twilight series, highlight how contemporary fears have been addressed by generation after generation.

Terror and Wonder presents an intriguing glimpse of a fascinating and mysterious world. Experience 250 years of Gothic’s dark shadow.

Get more from your visit by booking a curator-led tour at no extra charge. Find out more

Download our free Gothic podcast

To accompany the exhibition, British horror writer Charlie Higson tells the true story of how the vampire and the zombie were born. Along the way, Reece Shearsmith reads extracts to chill the spine and thrill the senses. Download the podcast

Win a holiday in Transylvania

Delve into the history surrounding Vlad the Impaler - the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. To celebrate Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination we have teamed up with Regent Holidays to offer you the chance to win a tour retracing the life of this historical figure. Enter the competition

Free workshops for students

Workshops will support the delivery of English and Art at Key Stages 3- 5. Find out more

A voluntary donation can be added over the regular ticket price. You will be helping the Library to conserve and share its collection. If you are a UK tax-payer and ‘Gift Aid’ your donation, the Library can reclaim the tax you have paid.